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Giving negotiations a chance – Foreign Minister Wadephul travels to Geneva for nuclear talks
The E3 Foreign Ministers and the European Union’s High Representative © Photothek
Israel has been attacking targets in Iran for a week now. Iran has reacted with air attacks on Israel. Germany, France and the UK are starting a diplomatic initiative aimed at opening the way for a negotiated solution. Click here to find out more.
Since the atrocious attack by Hamas on Israel on 7 October 2023, the situation in the Middle East has been extremely tense. While it has still not been possible to achieve a permanent ceasefire in the war in Gaza, a further front has now been opened: for more than a week now, Israel and Iran have been carrying out air attacks against each other. Civilians have been among those killed in both countries.
The Israeli military attacks against Iran were triggered by Iran’s nuclear programme, which the regime in Tehran has been working on for decades. Many countries in the region, especially Israel, are concerned that Iran may acquire a nuclear weapon. That would constitute a direct threat to Israel’s existence.
On 12 June, the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna stated in a resolution that by continuing its nuclear programme, Iran is failing to fulfil its obligations under international law – for example those enshrined in the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which Iran has signed.
There is a risk that the current military conflict could spread to other states in the region. That is why there has been intense diplomatic activity during the last few days: Foreign Minister Wadephul, who was in Cairo when the first military strikes were carried out, changed his original travel plans so that he could conduct talks at the weekend with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman. On Wednesday, he met the Jordanian Foreign Minister in Berlin. Concern about escalation was evident in all the talks.
During the joint press conference with his Jordanian colleague on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Wadephul stated:
The Iranian regime must never acquire a nuclear weapon. Our diplomatic efforts are aimed at this very objective. There is a danger that the military attacks currently being carried out will result in attention being focused solely on finding a military solution. That means there is a considerable risk that other countries will become embroiled in this conflict.
Germany, France and the UK have been seeking for years in the E3 format to ensure that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon. Following the recent military attacks, the three countries have decided to launch a diplomatic initiative to bear on Iran to make serious and verifiable concessions.
Foreign Minister Wadephul said on Wednesday:
We as the E3 remain ready to negotiate a solution. However, Iran must now urgently make concessions for that to succeed. Iran must implement confidence-building and verifiable measures. For example, the leadership in Tehran must credibly demonstrate that it is not seeking to acquire a nuclear weapon. It is never too late to come to the negotiating table if one goes there with honest intentions.
On Friday, the E3 Foreign Ministers will first of all come together with the European Union’s High Representative in Geneva for talks. After that, a meeting with the Iranian Foreign Minister is scheduled. The aim of the meeting is to re-start serious negotiations in order to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. The E3’s diplomatic initiative is being closely coordinated with the United States.